Solidarity with the people of Nicaragua!Statement of LIMPAL-Section of Costa Rica

“Enough deaths! Not more killings! We demand to President Ortega to stop repression ” With phrases like these, Nicaraguan women expressed their pain, in one of the many mobilizations that have taken place in Nicaragua, since April 19.

From the heartrending lamentations of mothers and fathers, who have lost their children, at the hands of the repressive forces, people have moved to organizing, an expression of this is the group “Mothers of April” that already summons a sit-in on Thursday 10 May in Managua, in what seems to be an enormous mobilization, which reminds us of the uncontainable strength of mothers in struggle, as was the experience of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and the various committees of the Central American 80’s

On behalf of the Costa Rican section of the International League of Women for Peace and Freedom (LIMPAL), we express our solidarity with the Nicaraguan people, students and other protesters seeking a change through peaceful actions, which call for conditions that make possible a fruitful dialogue.

At the same time, with respect, we ask both the opposition forces and the State to be consistent in rejecting actions that generate violence, which threaten the integrity and life of protesters. A great effort of studies and work for peace has been carried out for decades in Nicaragua. The student mobilizations have been unarmed. Forces contrary to dialogue and peace could undermine the beginning of a process that seeks changes, voices that ask and deserve to be heard.

LIMPAL, an organization of women with 103 years of existence, has been proud to carry from its birth the desire for freedom as an emblem of its very name. Its founders cried out without fear for peace, in the middle of World War I, a peace that is inconceivable without social justice. For that reason, it is simply natural for us to approach and support the Nicaraguan people, to show solidarity with the pain of those who have lost their children and to support initiatives that promotes dialogue and peace.

We also sympathize with the resistance of the Masaya de Monimbó indigenous community that for centuries struggle to maintain their customs, traditions, citizen participation, freedom of expression, free access to economic opportunities, greater social justice and against marginalization in general.

From Costa Rica, our section will inform the rest of women of the World, who share the same ideals of freedom, equality and social justice about the development of events in an impartial manner and with respect to all parties in conflict. It is our deep desire that this crisis becomes an opportunity for that heroic people to rescue the best of a legacy of decades of struggles for freedom, which has always strengthens its spirit of struggle with international solidarity.

We hope that the high-ranking officials in power in Nicaragua will reflect and open up space for true social dialogue, in a context free of violence, reprisals and disqualifications against dissident voices.